The University of California explains why it choose Google over Microsoft

The University of California at Berkeley just decided to move off its old email system, and it chose Gmail over Microsoft's Office 365.


In basic terms, the University of California decided it could get Google Apps up and running faster and for less money.


The University found out that to move to Office 365, it would have had to do a double migration -- first to an on-premise version of Exchange, then to the online version in Google Apps. This pokes a hole in Microsoft's claim that Office 365 is a true cloud-based competitor to Office 365. (This double migration wouldn't be required in all cases, but it's NEVER required with Google Apps.)


Here's where Google had the biggest advantages:


Cheaper support during the migration - since other universities in the UC system have already migrated to Google Apps, Cal can rely on them to provide some support. With Microsoft, it would have to turn to Microsoft Consulting Services "at a significant cost to the project."


Faster to set up - Deploying Gmail will take six to ten weeks, and the university will be able to keep some recent changes it made to its email routing system. With Office 365, the university has to move from its current system to an on-premises version of Exchange first. Then, it can move from Exchange to Office 365. It will also have to throw out most of the routing infrastructure it just installed.


Works with existing software - Gmail integrates with other Google products that some university departments use, and with the document storage and management system from Box, which the university already bought. Office 365 can work with SharePoint and Lync (which it mistakenly calls Lynx), but it was not interested in those solutions and didn't even consider them.


Easier to develop on - More people on campus know how to work with Google Apps than with Microsoft's Exchange.


Migration of email groups - Google has a product that could be used to migrate Cal's existing Mailman mailing lists to Gmail. Microsoft recommended against even trying to migrate Mailman to Exchange.


The solutions were pretty close in other areas, like delegated administration (neither was great, but Google was slightly better), user familiarity (it depends on what product people are using today), and mobile support.


To read the all article,  click here.


For more information go to neeaconsulting.com or contact us at: (+351) 21 365 4000

The world's #1 sales app :)

The Sales Cloud from salesforce.com recently swept the CRM Market awards from CRM magazine – for the third straight year. And they aren’t the only ones singing our praises.


Salesforce have been positioned by Gartner Inc. in the “Leaders” quadrant of the magic quadrants for both Sales Force Automation and Social CRM, and cited as a leader in the Forrester Wave™ for Mobile Collaboration. Also at last week's Software Satisfaction Awards in London, salesforce.com won the Enterprise CRM & Customer Management category.


And our customers agree - 92% say they will recommend Salesforce to others. No one else gives you:

• Social collaboration built into your sales process so your entire company can help you sell
• Social insights help you know what your contacts are saying across the social web
• Automatic data updates to account and contact info served up by Data.com
• Mobile Apps on your favorite devices so you can get the information you need anytime, anywhere.

Advantage #6 : Google's security investments help protect customers

The TEN advantages of Google's Cloud:

1. Cloud computing is in Google's DNA 
2. Faster access to innovation drives higher productivity
3. Users adopt new functionality with less disruption
4. Employees can be productive from anywhere
5. Google's cloud enables faster collaboration

Today were're going to reveal advantage Number 6! It's almost done! :)

6. Google's immense security investments help protect customers

Google's large investments in physical and process-based security are passed on to customers. First, Google is able to hire many of the worlds leading security experts to protect our systems and conduct cutting-edge security research. Google's data centers are hardened with many of the latest measures in security precautions, including biometric access controls and multi-tiered security perimeters. Furthermore, Google has implemented a multi-layered security process protocol designed to help keep customer data safe.

All processes have been independently verified in a successful third-party SAS 70 Type II audit to verify our confidentiality, integrity and availability of customer data. Finally, Google is able to efficiently manage security updates across our nearly homogeneous global cloud computing infrastructure, so customer aren't exposed to known vulnerabilities until they install security patches themselves.

It's amazing, right? :)

Advantage #5: Google's cloud enables faster collaboration

The TEN advantages of Google's Cloud:

1. Cloud computing is in Google's DNA 
2. Faster access to innovation drives higher productivity
3. Users adopt new functionality with less disruption
4. Employees can be productive from anywhere

As you are all expecting, here it is: advantage Number 5! :) 

5. Google's cloud enables faster collaboration

Because data in Google Apps is stored in the cloud instead of on employee computers, multiple users can access and contribute to projects simultaneously without worrying about using the same operating system, software, or browser. 


For example, instead of collaborating on a document by sending back and forth revision after revision as attachments, documents are stored in the cloud with Google Apps. Coworkers can access the web-based document simultaneously in their browsers, and even make changes that other authorized users can see in real-time. Eliminating attachment round-trips by storing data in the cloud saves time and reduces frustrations for teams who need to work together efficiently.


Google Rocks! :)

2011: We made it :)

What mattered in 2011? Zeitgeist sorted billions of Google searches to capture the year's 10 fastest-rising global queries and the rest of the spirit of 2011.


See how the world searched with Google's 2011 Zeitgeist.
http://www.googlezeitgeist.com


Enjoy :)

Advantage #4: Employees can be productive from anywhere

The TEN advantages of Google's Cloud:

1. Cloud computing is in Google's DNA 
2. Faster access to innovation drives higher productivity
3. Users adopt new functionality with less disruption
4. Employees can be productive from anywhere

As you all know, in the last few days we have been giving to you the advantages of Google's Cloud.

Today, we will give you the advantage #4:

Employees can be productive from anywhere

Web-based applications powered by Google's global infrastructure give workers full access to their information across devices, so they can be productive in more places. Their data is stored in the cloud - not on one particular computer - so employees can connect with all of their information and get work done from any Internet connection. 

Google's infrastructure gives users seamless access to their information at work, at home, on the road and from their mobile devices. 

With traditional technology, important information can be trapped in software only available on a limited set of devices, preventing employees from being their most productive.

Google is the Best! :)

Hate meetings?

Hate meetings? You're not the only one!

9 out of 10 workers would prefer to interact in any other way than attend a meeting, yet we spend more time in meetings than any other form of interaction.

You actually feel that those meetings are a huge waste of time. But, honestly? Meetings don't need to be so bad.

We are one of the major Cisco WebEx providers in Portugal, so if you want to save some money and, at the same time, be more productive, talk to us. :)

“If our customers are on social platforms, our agents need to be too"

Learn how Comcast leverages Radian6 social media monitoring and engagement to form positive bonds with their customers, transforming dissenters into promoters. 


Ear from Kip Wetzel, Sr. Director Social Media Services, and members of his team about the companies social enterprise journey. And industry visionary, Guy Kawasaki, points out why Comcast's story illustrates the value of social media in business.


Salesforce + Comcast = Like :)

Advantage #3: Users adopt new functionality with less disruption

The TEN advantages of Google's Cloud

We already gave you #1 and #2:

1. Cloud computing is in Google's DNA; 

2. Faster access to innovation drives higher productivity;

Here it is: Number 3: 

Users adopt new functionality with less disruption.

Rapid innovation powered by the cloud has another advantage over traditional technology cycles: employees adapt to a continuous stream of manageable improvements better than they tolerate large, disruptive batches of change. 

Gradual iterations in bite-sized chunks substantially reduce change-management challenges. Conversely, employees are subjected to a painful re-learning cycle each time companies upgrade traditional software.

Still have doubts? Wait for the number 4! :)

Google's Security

This is a video tour of a Google Data Center Highlights. 


Check out  the Security and Data protections that are in place at Google Data Centers.


Still have doubts?  :)

Advantage #2: Faster Access to Innovation Drives Higher Productivity

Yesterday we posted here the ten advantages of Google's Cloud, but we have only explained the first one. 


Now... we'll explain you the second one! :)

The TEN advantages of Google's Cloud:

1. Cloud computing is in Google's DNA 

2. Faster access to innovation drives higher productivity


The web is the epicenter of innovation, and Google's multi-tenant infrastructure is designed so it can push improvements to its entire customer base on short iteration cycles. Google can deliver new functionality on a weekly basis, or faster, because its systems are able to distribute updates so efficiently. 


In 2009 alone, Google launched over 100 improvements, and customers didn't need to manage any upgrades or patches. In contrast, businesses tend to update traditional server software every five to seven years due to long release cycles from vendors and the cost and complexity businesses face implementing upgrades, especially when more powerful servers are required, like 64-bit hardware.


Browser-based applications are another key ingredient in Google's recipe for rapid innovation. When Google launch new features, users automatically get these improvements just by refreshing their browsers. Google's mobile browser applications also get new features without software updates. With traditional technology and "software plus services", client software is an innovation bottleneck. Even after back-end systems can support new features, users don't get new functionality in those environments until the software on their computers and mobile phones have been upgraded, which can be an expensive and labor-intensive project.


Google Rocks! ;)


Want to know #3? Check our blog tomorrow! :)

Top ten advantages of Google's cloud

Compared to on-premises, hosted and "software plus services" technologies, Google's multi-tenant, Internet-scale infrastructure offers faster access to innovation, superior reliability and security, and maximum economies of scale.

Here's ten advantages of Google's Cloud:

1. Cloud computing is in Google's DNA;
2. Faster access to innovation drives higher productivity;
3. Users adopt new functionality with less disruption;
4. Employees can be productive from anywhere;
5. Google's cloud enables faster collaboration;
6. Google's immense security investments help protect customers;
7. Less data is stored on vulnerable devices;
8. Customers get higher reliability and uptime;
9. Google Apps offers extensive flexibility and control;
10. Customers spend less through Google's economies of scale.

Every day, i will explain you each advantage, separately. Here's the first one: 

1. Cloud computing is in Google's DNA:

Google has been pushing the technological bounds of cloud computing for more than ten years. Today, feedback and usage statistics from hundreds of millions of users in the real world help us bring stress-tested innovation to business customers at an unprecedented pace. From our consumer user base, we quickly learn which new features would be useful in the business context, refine those features, and make them available to Google Apps customers with minimal delay.

Stay tuned for the next advantage! ;)

Recording of our Google Event

Hi! :)


As promised, here it is: the link to see the recording of our event:

Link's Event: https://neeaconsulting-demo.webex.com/neeaconsulting-demo/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=EC&rID=13968057&rKey=932DD17AC3A9EA31

Hope you enjoy it and thanks for having turn it in such a success! :)


It's also available on our website: www.neeaconsulting.com.

Thanks a Lot! :)

Thanks to everyone who have attended to our webinar!


It was a sucess and i'm sure it will help you in the future!


A special thanks to Reinaldo Gondar, from Tecnilab, our costumer and special guest, and to Edouard Chabrol, Partner Manager EMEA of Google Enterprise.


Without them, the event wouldn't be the same! Thanks a lot :)


If you missed it, you can always watch it on our website. It's not available yet, but it will as soon as possible!


Hope you've enjoyed it, like we do and stay alert for our next activities! :)

Google Enterprise VP: We Will Never Compete with Partners

Today we are going to share with you an article from the Vice President, Amit Singh. 


He talks about the relationship between Google and his partners:


"In fact, Singh said even though his remit is overseeing Google’s enterprise strategy in its entirety, Google’s partner strategy is a “top-three” concern for 2012. After all, Google is relying on its partners to help scale their business going forward. And part of that is staying out of the partner’s way. Singh said he’s heard the same concerns about deal registration raised at the Gsocial Google partner conference earlier in November, and his team is working on new ways to make sure that Google never competes directly with partners. In the meanwhile, Singh said Google’s internal sales team is instructed to let the partner take point whenever and wherever possible".


If you want to read the whole article, click here.


No software. No installs. No headaches. Just focus on the things that matter. :)